WASTEWATER TREATMENT-

Bahrain’s Bapco Refining awarded a USD 14 mn contract to operate an industrial wastewater treatment plant to India’s water management firm VA Tech Wabag, according to a press release (pdf) published on Wednesday. The contract will span seven years for the plant which will treat 4.4k gallons per minute of wastewater using membrane bioreactor technology.

Wabag is already operating in the region: Wabag has been operating the Madinat Salman Sewage Treatment Plant in Bahrain since 2018, the press release notes. Wabag also secured a design, build, and operate EUR 34 mn contract for a wastewater treatment plan in Tunisia with a 36 mn litre per day capacity.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES-

Domasco and Volvo Trucks are set to debut Qatar’s first heavy-duty electric truck VolvoFH Electric, according to a press release published on Wednesday. It has a gross combination weight of 44 tons and boasts a driving range of 300 km, a charging time of 2.5 hours on a fast charger, battery power ranging between 180 to 540 kWh, and 666 horsepower. The Volvo FH Electric’s price and launch timeline are yet to be disclosed.

GREEN FINANCE-

#1- Egypt eyes EUR 318 mn loan for electric rail project: Egypt is in talks with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for a EUR 318 mn loan to finance components of the first line of its high-speed electric train network, Asharq Business reported on Monday, citing a document it obtained. A report on the loan terms will be up for discussions in the Parliament soon after the Transport Committee finalized a review report on the loan terms.

The details: The loan would cover the purchase of external components and equipment for a 390 km segment of the line. If approved, the funds would be deployed within 6 months, with a repayment period of 16 years. It would also be the third loan Egypt receives for the project after securing two loans totaling EUR 2.26, with contributions from 18 international institutions, Asharq Business reports.

#2- Jordan secures JOD 11 mn in clean energy funds from Canada: Jordan’s RenewableEnergy and Energy Efficiency Fund signed a JOD 11 mn (c. USD 15.5 mn) agreement with the Canadian government for the second phase of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED II) program, state news agency Petra reported on Monday.

About SEED II: The program — to be implemented over five years — aims to enhance energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Southern Jordan Valley. The projects will include establishing electric charging stations, conducting energy audits in government buildings, and enhancing energy efficiency in public schools and health centers.

SOLAR-

Larsen & Toubro top EPC candidate for Abu Dhabi mega solar PV project: Indian multinational Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) has been selected by the UAE’s Masdar as a preferred Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor for a 24/7 solar PV and battery storage project in Abu Dhabi, according to a press release (pdf) published on Monday.

ICYMI- Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) are building a USD 6 bn, 5.2 GW solar project that will be linked to a 19 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) making it one of the largest of its kind in the world. The mega project – set to be completed by 2027 – will produce 1 GW of uninterrupted baseload power clean power daily. It covers an area of 90 sq km in the Abu Dhabi desert and will receive financing through both debt and equity.

WIND-

Masdar-owned Terna Energy and Greece’s Motor Oil Renewable Energy are developing Greece’s first offshore wind farm by 2030, according to a press release published on Monday. Motor Oil Group is participating through its subsidiary Motor Oil Renewable Energy which holds a 50% stake in Terna subsidiary Aioliki Provata Traianoupoleos. Aioliki has the right to develop 400 MW of offshore wind south of Alexandroupolis and north of Samothrace.

REMEMBER- Masdar completed its acquisition of a 70% stake in Terna for EUR 20 per share in December. The move came as part of Masdar’s push to reach 100 GW of global energy capacity by 2030. Terna — the largest investor in Greece’s renewables sector — aims to achieve 6 GW of operational renewables capacity by 2029

BATTERIES-

Moroccan battery materials manufacturer COBCO has launched its first production lines for precursor cathode active materials (pCAM) at Jorf Lasfar, according to a press release published last week. The lines will use nickel, cobalt, and manganese (NCM) technology and produce 120kt of PCAM per year to meet growing demand in Europe and North America.

COBCO also plans to develop production facilities for Lithium Iron Phosphate cathode active materials and black mass recycling facilities, which are planned to have a combined production capacity of 70 GWh, enough to power over 1 mn EVs annually. COPCO expects to run the lines solely on renewable energy sources by 2026.

REMEMBER- CAMs are high-purity chemicals that determine the performance, efficiency, reliability, cost, durability, and size of lithium-ion batteries. Their precursor material, pCAM, makes up about 60% of the monetary value of the cathode active material.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

  • Morocco + Mauritania deepen energy cooperation: Morocco and Mauritania inked an MoU to boost collaboration in electricity and renewable energy, focusing on rural electrification, clean energy initiatives, and harmonizing electrical standards. The agreement also covers exchanging expertise, tech, and best practices in energy security and network management, alongside joint training to enhance human capacities. (MAP)
  • Bahrain + GFG partner on energy efficiency: Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Affairs Ministry inked a framework agreement with Gulf Air group (GFG) to advance renewable energy adoption and boost energy efficiency. The agreement will see the ministry provide technical support to integrate renewable energy solutions and optimize energy usage across GFG’s buildings and facilities. (Bahrain News Agency)
  • KSA launches Novus Crete alliance for sustainable concrete: Saudi’s Public Investment Fund and Saudi Investment Recycling Company, Neom, Sika, and Climate Crete have signed an MoU to launch the Novus Crete alliance to boost sustainable concrete production. The alliance is led by the Oil Sustainability Program and will explore concrete production using seawater, polymers, recycled construction and demolition materials, and sand. (SPA)
  • EVIQ + BYD team up to expand EV adoption in KSA: The Saudi ElectricVehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ) — a JV between the Public Investment Fund and the Saudi Electricity Company — has inked an MoU with BYD’s local representative Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility to boost EV adoption in the Kingdom. The partnership will focus on deploying high-speed charging stations at BYD Al-Futtaim locations locally and offer tailored charging packages for BYD customers. (Press Release)
  • SEE + Arabian Gulf Steel sign sustainable construction agreement: UAE’s SEE Holding has signed an MoU with Arabian Gulf Steel Industries to foster sustainable construction practices by incorporating low-carbon steel in future projects. The pair will also support the recycling of steel products and low-carbon steel R&D. (Press Release)
  • Al Ghurair brings Exeed’s EVs to Saudi Arabia: Dubai-based Al Ghurair has become the exclusive distributor for China’s Exeed Automobile in Saudi, with plans to expand with multiple showrooms set to launch this year across the UAE and KSA. The partnership will see Al Ghurair introduce Exeed’s EV & hybrid lineup to the Saudi market in 2025. (Statement)
  • Lootah Biofuels launches app to boost UCO recycling in UAE: Lootah Biofuels has rolled out a smart app to boost used cooking oil (UCO) collection from households and businesses. The app lets users request home collection services and features an interactive map of biodiesel stations and collection centres and a built-in calculator that tracks collected oil and environmental impact. (Press Release)
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